Following up on last week’s blog, this week I will discuss gifting a pet to a caregiver and what to consider when making a cash gift to a caregiver.

Gifting a Pet to a Caregiver

Although most of us do not think of our pets as assets, it is important to remember that, for legal purposes, animals are considered personal property. As such, a pet cannot be a beneficiary under a Will. A pet owner can gift his or her pet to another person who then becomes the legal owner of the pet. A provision in a Will directing that a pet be euthanized will likely not be valid as such provisions are considered to be against public policy. (more…)